lummi island wine tasting valentine weekend ’15
(as always, some photos will click open to larger versions)
It’s back: Bread Friday!
Honey Rye— rye sourdough culture, 1/3 fresh milled rye flour, coarse ground rye and a bit of honey for sweetness. Try with cheese or smoked salmon – $5/loaf.
Buttermilk Currant— 50% fresh milled whole wheat flour with a buttermilk tang, dried currants, and a little fresh rosemary. Makes great toast! – $5/loaf.
Rum Raisin Brioche: Delightful and buttery with almond paste, rum raisins, chocolate, and sliced almonds. Won’t last, so get here early! 2 for $5
The Never-ending Story
As you know, we were away for a month, having “adventures,” mentioned in recent posts. So of course one point of interest on our daily dog walk has been to check in on Ning Ning, aka the Green Ketch, whose exploits we have followed since her grounding last fall. When last we posted, she had been brought back from yet another watery grave, once again afloat on her mooring. I have lost count, not sure if that was the third sinking and refloating or the fourth.
So it was with some considerable dismay and consternation to find, on our first walk after our return that alas, she is sunk again. In the interest of Full Disclosure I will say that this photo is actually from sinking two or three around late November…but it is a pretty good representation of what she looks like right now. On behalf of this poor old boat I just have to wonder, (picture Lewis Black saying this and waving his arms for emphasis), “WTF ARE THESE GUYS THINKING??!!” This is not Rocket Science, folks. To paraphrase the old saying…”sink me once, shame on you…sink me twice, thrice, and more, shame on…who…why are you looking at me like that…??”
Signs of Spring
In Napa Valley a few weeks ago we noticed that the mustard that is planted between the rows in many vineyards is in full bloom in many places– about six weeks early. And on one day in late January the temp got up to eighty, very unusual.
It seems pretty warm around here, too, for Valentine’s Day. We’ve noticed lots of spring birdsong in the early morning air; Indian plum and snowdrops are blossoming, and iris and daffodils are reaching up for the sun. That was the case last year at this time, too…just before we got a foot of wet, heavy snow. So this is just a reminder not to get too confident or take the weather for granted. It’s really the same lesson as in the previous paragraph– “Arrr, always keep an eye to weather, lads!”
This week’s wines:
St. Innocent Pinot Blanc Freedom Hill ’12 Oregon $18
Bright, green-tinged yellow, with minerally scents of honey, tangerine, and herbs. Light and easygoing, with delicately earthy notes mixing with the pear and citrus flavors.
Bibbiani Treggiaia Italy $11
A smooth and satisfying blend of sangiovese, canniolo & cab, serious but friendly, delightful with anything from pizza to lamb chops.
Casarena ’505′ Malbec ’10 Chile $12
Nuanced aromas of currant, dusty herbs, licorice, spices, coffee and smoky oak. Serious and lively, with saline complexity to flavors of blackcurrant and cranberry.
Montfaucon Cotes du Rhone ’11 France $13
50% Grenache co-fermented on skins with syrah, cinsault, carignan from 40 yr old vines; matured in concrete tanks. Good ripeness and lots of minerality along with fleshy plum, blackberry and licorice notes. A floral hint adds charm on the finish. (read more)
Lost River Western Red ’12 Washington $17
Lovely blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc; dark fruits on the nose, smooth and rich in the mouth, enjoy with rich sauces or all by itself.
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